FILE
- In this Feb. 23, 2019 file photo, Wisconsin Gov.
Tony Evers speaks during an interview during the
National Governors Association 2019 winter meeting in
Washington. Evers said Thursday, March 14, that the
state budget he proposed is "pretty close"
to not raising taxes, even though it would increase
them by $1.3 billion over two years. Evers, in an
interview on WTMJ radio, said that there "may be
some small tax increases." The comments drew an
incredulous reaction from Republican legislative
leaders.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers
said Thursday that the state budget he proposed is
"pretty close" to not raising taxes, even though
it would increase them by $1.3 billion over two years.

Evers, in an interview on
WTMJ radio, said that there "may be some small tax
increases." The comments drew an incredulous reaction
from Republican legislative leaders.

"Is this a joke?"
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald tweeted . "The
governor's budget contains over $1 billion in tax hikes
after he told Wisconsin voters he planned to not raise taxes
at all."

Evers promised during the
campaign not to raise taxes, only to then put forward a
budget that would raise the gas tax and some vehicle
registration fees and reduce tax credits available to
manufacturers and wealthier tax filers with capital gains.

In total, taxes and fees
would increase by about $1.3 billion under his plan, based
on an analysis by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Evers was asked during
Thursday's interview about his campaign pledge not to raise
taxes.

"We're pretty close, to
be honest with you," he said, before adding that there
may be "some small tax increases."

His spokeswoman, Melissa
Baldauff, said Evers' point was that the impact of any tax
increase on most people would be small. An independent
analysis of Evers' budget and the impact on taxpayers is
pending from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Baldauff defended his
proposals, saying Evers wants the money to invest in the
state's priorities such as roads, schools and health care
while also cutting income taxes for the middle class.

"The governor's budget
produces a fairer and more progressive tax system where tax
relief is broadly shared instead of narrowly concentrated
for certain filers," Baldauff said.

In the radio interview, Evers
described himself as a pragmatist and said he believes he
can reach a deal with Republicans to pass and sign a budget
close to the June 30 deadline.

"I have no animosity,
but I also understand the need to huff and puff and that
happens on both sides," he said. "That's
unfortunately the way it works."

Republicans have said they
expect to reject much of what Evers is proposing as they
work on a budget they can support. In addition to opposing
the tax increases, Republicans have spoken against
increasing funding for special education by $600 million as
Evers wants, legalizing medical marijuana, freezing
enrollment in private voucher schools and expanding
Medicaid.

Evers defended the budget as
realistic, citing support he heard during listening sessions
held across the state and responses from Marquette
University Law School polls showing support for many of the
proposals.

On Foxconn, Evers said the
state Department of Natural Resources had completed its
review of air quality permits issued to the Taiwanese
company for its planned development in southeast Wisconsin
and determined that no changes were necessary.

Those permits were issued
under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration
and Evers campaigned on promising to review them amid
concerns about the environmental impact of the project,
which includes a display screen manufacturing facility.

Evers reiterated Thursday
that his primary concern with Foxconn is that the company's
intentions be transparent to taxpayers, who could be on the
hook for about $4 billion in tax credits if the company
invests $10 billion and hires 13,000 people.

Foxconn executives insist
they remain on target to do that, though critics say the
company's shifting plans for what it will manufacture at the
Wisconsin plant point to a much smaller investment in money
and employees.